International Stuttering Awareness Day – October 22, 2018

International Stuttering Awareness Day

International Stuttering Awareness Day is an annual observance celebrated on October 22nd of every year. Making fun of the disability in a person will hurt that individual. Any form of such talks or actions is an offence. Stuttering or stammering is one such common disability and people who are suffering from this speech disorder are being often mocked. With so many awareness days exists in the calendar year, it is indeed to bring in some form of awareness about this curable disorder. International Stuttering Awareness Day is commemorated every year to raise awareness among the public and help millions of people who are suffering from stammering.

“Stuttering is painful. In Sunday school, I’d try to read my lessons, and the children behind me were falling on the floor with laughter.” – James Earl Jones

History of International Stuttering Awareness Day

International Stuttering Awareness Day (ISAD) was first celebrated in the year 1998. European League of Stuttering Associations, International Fluency Association, and International Stuttering Association organized the ISAD. Various stammering associations, individuals, and groups globally organize events to mark the day and to raise awareness about stuttering. Stuttering or stammering is a disorder in the speech in which the flow of speech is interrupted. It is a communication disorder in a person’s speech that involves disruptions, or dysfluencies.The person who stutters will be unable to produce sounds, prolongations of sounds, usually vowels and semivowels, syllables, words or phrases. It also includes the abnormal hesitation, involuntary silent pauses or blocks.

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Demosthenes, an Ancient Greek statesman, lived in the 4th century BC was one of the most famous stutterers. He was often mocked by his rivals as he couldn’t speak without stuttering. It made him determined to get out of his condition. He used the tactics to practice speaking loud to be heard over the waves with the pebbles in his mouth. He succeeded after much hard work. The impact of stuttering can become severe on a person’s functioning and emotional state. Herbal remedies were often recommended for stuttering during ancient and medieval times. Various types of fluency shaping therapy are prescribed nowadays. It helps the stammer to exercise and take more control over the lips, jaw, and tongue. Lowering a stutterer’s stress and anxiety levels have shown great improvements in their speech.

Other Celebrations on October 22

How to Celebrate International Stuttering Awareness Day

Celebrating the International Stuttering Awareness Day is very simple. You can help people around you who are suffering from stuttering by motivating them to speak louder. Never discourage them when such people stammer while they talk. Promote awareness that this disability can be cured with treatments. Spend some time with those stutters to help them come out of their stress, anxiety, and shame. Share your stuttering awareness day celebrations using the hashtag #InternationalStutteringAwarenessDay on the social media.